Huntington's disease. Part 2: treatment and management issues in juvenile HD.

Juvenile Huntington's disease (JHD) is a rare condition, with only about 5-10% of Huntington's disease cases occurring in individuals under the age of 20 years. Symptoms of JHD include, for example, rigidity, stiffness, awkwardness in walking, and speech difficulty. JHD is caused by an inherited gene mutation that is localized to the short arm of chromosome 4. There is no cure for the condition, and it is currently managed through symptomatic treatment and supportive care. Being an inherited condition, those involved in the care of a child with JHD need to be aware of the impact that the disorder will have on the whole family.